Methods of IT Project Management (Brewer/Dittman)
Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management
1.1 Essay Questions
1) Describe at least three of the key differences found in project management for IT
versus other industries.
Answer: The key differences of project management in the IT industry are: traditionally
high turnover rates of IT workers; level of uniqueness and complexity of each project due
to rapid changes in technology; software is hard to visualize by the developer let alone
the customer; difficulty in getting accurate customer requirements; rate of change in
requirements; difficulty in testing all the possible states of software; constant training
needed to keep team members current with technology.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 9
2) In the opening case about R&S Amusement Services, we see that project management
is more than concepts, tools, techniques, and methods. It is about people working with
people. Explain the importance and objectives of the initial meeting described in the case.
Answer: The initial meeting is an important meeting in establishing the foundation of the
relationship between R&S Amusement Services and the consultants from Premier Project
Management Services (PPMS). The consultants are relaying their expertise and
demonstrating to the client that they have the required skills and experience to ensure a
successful project. And the R&S president is communicating background information
about the business and the project. These attendees are important stakeholders for the
project. The objectives of this initial meeting are not only to bring key stakeholders
together but also to begin the process of communication and understanding the problems
that need to solved (or the opportunities seized) by the project.
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 3
3) Describe at least three of the skills necessary to lead projects.
Answer: Some of the soft skills required to lead projects include: leadership; team
building; negotiation; conflict management; organization for self and others; oral and
,written communication to technical and non-technical audiences; change management;
and active listening. The technical skills necessary to lead projects include: project
management software; level of understanding of the technology being used in the project;
basic knowledge of the business; cost estimating and budgeting.
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 17
4) According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), what are the benefits for
organizations that use structured project management techniques. List at least three of the
benefits.
Answer: According to PMI, the benefits for organizations that use structured project
management techniques are: improvement in customer satisfaction; better cost
performance, higher return on investment; better schedule performance, better allocation
of time commitments and better utilization of resources, higher productivity; increased
quality reducing re-work; and increase in delivering required features.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 10
,5) What are some reasons projects might turn into "death march projects" (i.e. they don't
end)?
Answer: Organizations continue to work on projects that will not be successful. Some of
the reasons for this are: the customer has requested additional features; there has been a
change in the technical architecture; key resources have left or been reassigned which
have slowed or delayed the project; or failure to terminate a dying project because
management does not want to be viewed as a failure.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 13
6) Explain the concept of progressive elaboration.
Answer: The third characteristic that defines a project is progressive elaboration. This
concept refers to development in steps and then continuing in small increments, adding
features and definitions as you go. For example, the customer and developer will have a
basic understanding of the project in the initial phase of the development life cycle, but
during the project's later phases or in later iterations they will obtain more detailed
definition of what is to be built, design how it is to be built in more detail with each
iteration, and then build it in these increments.
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 14
7) What is scope and how is it used to evaluate the success of a project?
Answer: Scope is the list of customer requested requirements. It is assessed by the
degree to which the system satisfies the requirements set forth and agreed upon by the
customer and the development team. Functional requirements as well as non-functional
requirements are defined at the beginning of the project. The development team uses this
definition as the blue prints for building an acceptable product for the customer. The
extent to which an activity in the development life cycle meets these requirements is a
measure of the scope criteria.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 14
8) Time is one of the triple constraints. What is it and how is it used to evaluate the
success of a project?
Answer: Time refers to the amount of time (hours, days, weeks, months) allocated in
, order to complete the project. Each activity of a project is estimated to take a certain
amount of time in order to complete. All of the activities are scheduled in an order best
determined by the project manager with assistance from the team to successfully
complete the project. The project manager monitors the schedule to ensure each activity
is being completed within the amount of time allocated and by the date specified.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 14
9) As a triple constraint, what does cost refer to and how is it used to evaluate the success
of a project?
Answer: Cost refers to the resources being spent (usually money) in order to turn
requirements into an acceptable system. It includes costs such as the salaries of the
development team as well as the costs for buying computer hardware and software. A
budget is normally established at the beginning of the project based on estimates of the
resources required. It is the responsibility of the project manager to be able to complete
the project within budget and if not, to take corrective action.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 14
Chapter 1 Introduction to Project Management
1.1 Essay Questions
1) Describe at least three of the key differences found in project management for IT
versus other industries.
Answer: The key differences of project management in the IT industry are: traditionally
high turnover rates of IT workers; level of uniqueness and complexity of each project due
to rapid changes in technology; software is hard to visualize by the developer let alone
the customer; difficulty in getting accurate customer requirements; rate of change in
requirements; difficulty in testing all the possible states of software; constant training
needed to keep team members current with technology.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 9
2) In the opening case about R&S Amusement Services, we see that project management
is more than concepts, tools, techniques, and methods. It is about people working with
people. Explain the importance and objectives of the initial meeting described in the case.
Answer: The initial meeting is an important meeting in establishing the foundation of the
relationship between R&S Amusement Services and the consultants from Premier Project
Management Services (PPMS). The consultants are relaying their expertise and
demonstrating to the client that they have the required skills and experience to ensure a
successful project. And the R&S president is communicating background information
about the business and the project. These attendees are important stakeholders for the
project. The objectives of this initial meeting are not only to bring key stakeholders
together but also to begin the process of communication and understanding the problems
that need to solved (or the opportunities seized) by the project.
Diff: 3 Page Ref: 3
3) Describe at least three of the skills necessary to lead projects.
Answer: Some of the soft skills required to lead projects include: leadership; team
building; negotiation; conflict management; organization for self and others; oral and
,written communication to technical and non-technical audiences; change management;
and active listening. The technical skills necessary to lead projects include: project
management software; level of understanding of the technology being used in the project;
basic knowledge of the business; cost estimating and budgeting.
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 17
4) According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), what are the benefits for
organizations that use structured project management techniques. List at least three of the
benefits.
Answer: According to PMI, the benefits for organizations that use structured project
management techniques are: improvement in customer satisfaction; better cost
performance, higher return on investment; better schedule performance, better allocation
of time commitments and better utilization of resources, higher productivity; increased
quality reducing re-work; and increase in delivering required features.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 10
,5) What are some reasons projects might turn into "death march projects" (i.e. they don't
end)?
Answer: Organizations continue to work on projects that will not be successful. Some of
the reasons for this are: the customer has requested additional features; there has been a
change in the technical architecture; key resources have left or been reassigned which
have slowed or delayed the project; or failure to terminate a dying project because
management does not want to be viewed as a failure.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 13
6) Explain the concept of progressive elaboration.
Answer: The third characteristic that defines a project is progressive elaboration. This
concept refers to development in steps and then continuing in small increments, adding
features and definitions as you go. For example, the customer and developer will have a
basic understanding of the project in the initial phase of the development life cycle, but
during the project's later phases or in later iterations they will obtain more detailed
definition of what is to be built, design how it is to be built in more detail with each
iteration, and then build it in these increments.
Diff: 1 Page Ref: 14
7) What is scope and how is it used to evaluate the success of a project?
Answer: Scope is the list of customer requested requirements. It is assessed by the
degree to which the system satisfies the requirements set forth and agreed upon by the
customer and the development team. Functional requirements as well as non-functional
requirements are defined at the beginning of the project. The development team uses this
definition as the blue prints for building an acceptable product for the customer. The
extent to which an activity in the development life cycle meets these requirements is a
measure of the scope criteria.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 14
8) Time is one of the triple constraints. What is it and how is it used to evaluate the
success of a project?
Answer: Time refers to the amount of time (hours, days, weeks, months) allocated in
, order to complete the project. Each activity of a project is estimated to take a certain
amount of time in order to complete. All of the activities are scheduled in an order best
determined by the project manager with assistance from the team to successfully
complete the project. The project manager monitors the schedule to ensure each activity
is being completed within the amount of time allocated and by the date specified.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 14
9) As a triple constraint, what does cost refer to and how is it used to evaluate the success
of a project?
Answer: Cost refers to the resources being spent (usually money) in order to turn
requirements into an acceptable system. It includes costs such as the salaries of the
development team as well as the costs for buying computer hardware and software. A
budget is normally established at the beginning of the project based on estimates of the
resources required. It is the responsibility of the project manager to be able to complete
the project within budget and if not, to take corrective action.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 14
